LGLHOOK
Member
CEDAR CITY - Police in Cedar City arrested a suspect early Saturday in the the shooting of a police officer with a shotgun the previous night.
The wounded officer, Jason Thomas, was in a Cedar City hospital Saturday and is expected to recover.
Lt. Keith Millett said Bryan Featherhat, 30, was seen by a passersby walking along Old Highway 91 between Enoch and Summit at 3:45 a.m. Saturday and was reported to police.
Millet said Thomas was on 1325 North and about 600 West in Cedar City at about 7 p.m. Friday checking on a resident who was using his car to pull Featherhat's pickup truck which had slid off the snowpacked road.
Millett said Thomas suspected Featherhat had been drinking and obtained his driver license.
While Thomas returned to his patrol vehicle, Featherhat allegedly pulled a shotgun from his truck and approached Thomas who at first thought the weapon was an umbrella.
Millett said Featherhat allegedly raised the shotgun and blasted Thomas on the right side of his chest.
When Thomas drew his weapon to defend himself, Featherhat allegedly fired a second blast, striking Thomas on his left side.
Millett said the officer's bullet-resistant vest appears to have saved his life.
After the shooting, Featherhat allegedly escaped in the car of the person who stopped to help him.
That car, a 1994 gray Honda Passport, was later found abandoned on a road two miles west of Enoch and a search for Featherhat started.
Millett said Thomas was wounded in his left arm and shoulder and has some BBs in him and a "couple of good bruises," from the shotgun blasts.
Thomas' wife, according to Millett, had recently given birth to their third child.
Featherhat was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility in Cedar City and is facing charges of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and car theft.
Salt Lake Tribune
The wounded officer, Jason Thomas, was in a Cedar City hospital Saturday and is expected to recover.
Lt. Keith Millett said Bryan Featherhat, 30, was seen by a passersby walking along Old Highway 91 between Enoch and Summit at 3:45 a.m. Saturday and was reported to police.
Millet said Thomas was on 1325 North and about 600 West in Cedar City at about 7 p.m. Friday checking on a resident who was using his car to pull Featherhat's pickup truck which had slid off the snowpacked road.
Millett said Thomas suspected Featherhat had been drinking and obtained his driver license.
While Thomas returned to his patrol vehicle, Featherhat allegedly pulled a shotgun from his truck and approached Thomas who at first thought the weapon was an umbrella.
Millett said Featherhat allegedly raised the shotgun and blasted Thomas on the right side of his chest.
When Thomas drew his weapon to defend himself, Featherhat allegedly fired a second blast, striking Thomas on his left side.
Millett said the officer's bullet-resistant vest appears to have saved his life.
After the shooting, Featherhat allegedly escaped in the car of the person who stopped to help him.
That car, a 1994 gray Honda Passport, was later found abandoned on a road two miles west of Enoch and a search for Featherhat started.
Millett said Thomas was wounded in his left arm and shoulder and has some BBs in him and a "couple of good bruises," from the shotgun blasts.
Thomas' wife, according to Millett, had recently given birth to their third child.
Featherhat was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility in Cedar City and is facing charges of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and car theft.
Salt Lake Tribune
